According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises a communication module and a connection control module. The communication module is configured to execute close proximity wireless transfer. The connection control module is configured to start an operation of establishing a connection between the communication module and an external device which is in close proximity to the communication module if an identifier of the external device wirelessly transmitted from the external device is included in a connection permission list. The connection control module is configured to display a password entry screen if the identifier is not included in the connection permission list, and to add, if a password entered on the password entry screen matches with a registered password, the identifier to the connection permission list and start the operation of establishing the connection between the communication module and the external device.
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1. An electronic apparatus comprising: a communication device configured to execute close proximity wireless transfer; and a connection controller; wherein the connection controller is configured to start an operation of establishing a connection between the communication device and an external device in close proximity to the communication device if an identifier of the external device wirelessly transmitted from the external device is on a connection permission list, and wherein the connection controller is configured to display a password entry screen if the identifier is not on the connection permission list, and if a password entered on the password entry screen matches with a registered password, the connection controller is configured to add the identifier to the connection permission list so that the external device is permitted to establish a connection to the communication device, and start the operation of establishing the connection between the communication device and the external device, the electronic apparatus further comprising, a password registrar configured to display a password registration screen in response to a password registration request, and to store a password entered on the password registration screen as the registered password; a password re-registrar configured to display the password registration screen if the password registration request is received in a state where the registered password is already stored, and to store a password entered on the password registration screen as a new registered password; and a date and time display configured to display a date and time when a previous registered password is stored.
An electronic device establishes wireless connections with nearby devices using close-proximity wireless transfer. If a device's identifier is on a pre-approved connection list, a connection is automatically established. If not, a password screen appears. Correct password entry adds the device to the connection list and starts the connection. The device allows users to register a password, and re-register/change it later. When changing the password, the device displays the date and time the previous password was set.
2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an operation mode setter configured to set an operation mode of the connection controller to either a first mode or a second mode, wherein the connection controller is configured to display the password entry screen if the identifier is not on the connection permission list in the first mode, and wherein the connection controller is configured to add the identifier to the connection permission list if the identifier is not on the connection permission list in the second mode.
The electronic device (described as establishing wireless connections with nearby devices using close-proximity wireless transfer; automatically connecting if the device's identifier is on a pre-approved connection list, or prompting for a password if not, adding the device to the list and connecting upon correct entry; and allowing password registration, re-registration/change with a display of the last change time) has an operation mode setting (first mode or second mode). In the first mode, it displays the password entry screen if the identifier is not on the connection list. In the second mode, it automatically adds the identifier to the connection list.
3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the password re-registrar is further configured to delete identifiers on the connection permission list.
The electronic device (described as establishing wireless connections with nearby devices using close-proximity wireless transfer; automatically connecting if the device's identifier is on a pre-approved connection list, or prompting for a password if not, adding the device to the list and connecting upon correct entry; and allowing password registration, re-registration/change with a display of the last change time) allows users to delete identifiers from the connection permission list when re-registering the password.
4. The electronic apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the connection controller is configured to display a confirmation screen which allows a user to confirm whether the device identified by the identifier is to be added to the connection permission list, if the identifier is not on the connection permission list in the second mode, and to add the identifier to the connection permission list if the user confirms that the device is to be added.
The electronic device (described as establishing wireless connections with nearby devices using close-proximity wireless transfer; automatically connecting if the device's identifier is on a pre-approved connection list, or prompting for a password if not, adding the device to the list and connecting upon correct entry; allowing password registration, re-registration/change with a display of the last change time; and featuring two operation modes where the second mode automatically adds identifiers to the connection list) in the second mode displays a confirmation screen asking the user to confirm adding a device before adding its identifier to the connection list. Only upon user confirmation is the device added.
5. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a password restrictor configured to restrict the registered password to comprise only numerals.
The electronic device (described as establishing wireless connections with nearby devices using close-proximity wireless transfer; automatically connecting if the device's identifier is on a pre-approved connection list, or prompting for a password if not, adding the device to the list and connecting upon correct entry; and allowing password registration, re-registration/change with a display of the last change time) restricts the registered password to only numbers.
6. A communication control method of controlling close proximity wireless transfer of a communication device in an electronic apparatus, comprising: receiving an identifier of an external device at the communication device, the identifier being wirelessly transmitted from the external device; starting an operation of establishing a connection between the communication device and the external device if the received identifier is on a connection permission list; displaying a password entry screen if the received identifier is not on the connection permission list; adding, if a password entered on the password entry screen matches with a registered password, the identifier to the connection permission list, and establishing the connection between the communication device and the external device; displaying a password registration screen in response to a password registration request, and storing a password entered on the password registration screen as the registered password; displaying the password registration screen when the password registration request is received in a state where the registered password is stored, and changing the stored registered password to a password entered on the password registration screen; and displaying a date and time when a previous registered password is stored.
An electronic device wirelessly connects to other devices nearby. When a nearby device's identifier is received, the system checks a permission list. If the identifier is present, a connection is established. If not, a password prompt appears. If the password matches the registered one, the device's identifier is added to the permission list and the connection is established. The system also features password registration and re-registration. The timestamp of the last successful password registration is saved and displayed when the password is changed.
7. The communication control method of claim 6 , further comprising setting an operation mode of controlling the close proximity wireless transfer to either a first mode or a second mode, wherein the password entry screen is displayed if the identifier is not on the connection permission list in the first mode, and wherein the identifier is added to the connection permission list if the identifier is not included in the connection permission list in the second mode.
The communication control method (described as a method where an electronic device wirelessly connects to nearby devices using an identifier permission list, password entry, registration and change, and last change timestamp) can be set to either a first mode or second mode. In first mode, a password entry screen is displayed if a connecting device identifier is not on the permission list. In second mode, if a connecting device identifier is not on the permission list, the connecting device identifier is automatically added to the permission list.
8. The communication control method of claim 6 , further comprising: deleting identifiers on the connection permission list when the password registration request is received in a state where the registered password is already stored and the stored registered password is changed to a password entered on the password registration screen.
In the communication control method (described as a method where an electronic device wirelessly connects to nearby devices using an identifier permission list, password entry, registration and change, and last change timestamp), when the registered password is changed, all identifiers on the connection permission list are deleted.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 1, 2010
August 20, 2013
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